A novel generic platform for chemical patterning of surfaces

Advancement in various fields ranging from biomaterials to cell biology is fostered by the evolution in patterning technology, that delivers smaller and smaller features exhibiting distinct (bio)chemical contrast and addressability. We have recently introduced a simple and versatile patterning technique based on selective adsorption from aqueous media of multifunctional organic molecules onto oxide substrates pre-patterned by lithographic methods. Here we demonstrate the use of this technique, termed selective molecular assembly patterning, for the preparation of cell-adhesive patterns of arbitrary geometry, and their use to investigate the relationship between pattern geometry and the organization of elements of the cell adhesion apparatus, namely focal contacts and stress fibres. Cell-culture compatible substrates with patterns consisting of ligands for cell-adhesion or other receptors represent a promising experimental tool for investigating cell-surface interactions with the goal of elucidating the mechanisms of how cells sense structural cues of the extracellular matrix.